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Old 10th December 2018, 17:19
kaki3152 kaki3152 is online now
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B-29 crewmen beheaded in Singapore

In "Prisoners of the Japanese" by Gavin Daws[1994] there is account of B-29 crewmen executed in public in Singapore. The passage [on page 321] is as follows: "In Singapore some B-29 crewmen were paraded through the city naked; then they had their heads chopped off in public"

Although I've been able to find all the B-29 POWs, I have not been able to precisely identify these crewmen nor verify the date of this incident.
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Old 11th December 2018, 01:51
kaki3152 kaki3152 is online now
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Re: B-29 crewmen beheaded in Singapore

Answered my own question;
677th Squadron - 444th Group - 58th Wing -20th Air Bomber Command
11 Jan 1945. 42-65226

The B29 Bomber designated as serial number 42-65226 flying out of Dudhkundi, India was scheduled for a combat mission over Singapore, Malaya. The regular engineer for the mission was temporary at rest camp, and 1st LT Charles Vail was assigned to take his place. Two minutes prior to acquisition of the target during the bombing run, the plane was hit with Flak, and it exploded. Some of the crew were expelled from the plane, some bailed, and some were unable to bail out in time. All had the misfortune of landing almost on their intended target.

Three men died in the crash. SGT Wolk and SGT Vail died in the crash, and were identified at the scene. Another unidentified, was probably TSGT Holt, because of a Minnesota sports article found with the remains.

SSGT Ellis and SSGT Gumbert were the left and right gunners. They survived the initial explosion and subsequent crash. However, SSGT Gumbert's injuries were severe and his remains were found near the wreckage.

MAJ Wilson, LT Fitzgerald, 1st LT Heiss, and 1st LT Yowell survived the explosion of the plane, and were gathered together by Chinese guerrillas the night of 11 Jan 1945.

1st LT Yowell and 1st LT Heiss were separated from MAJ Wilson and LT Fitzgerald because the latter were injured and had to be carried by stretcher. The Chinese guerrillas would later report that Yowell and Heiss were unsuccessful crossing the road near a Japanese guard post.

LT Fitzgerald and MAJ Wilson were later reunited with SSGT Roberts who also had survived and been found by the Chinese guerrillas and they were all extricated by a British submarine.

SSGT Ellis, 1st LT Osterdahl, 1st LT Yowell and 1st LT Heiss were all captured on or about 12 Jan 1945, taken to Seletar Singapore, where they were interrogated by Lieutenant Commander Okamoto Tonshio, Engineer Staff Officer of the 10th Special Base Unit. The prisoners were confined in a wooden hut near the Naval Club at Seletar and were guarded by the men of the Land Deputy Command under OC Lt Yamaguchi Wataru which was a part of the 10th Special Base unit. For a period of about a week, the four prisoners were tortured.

SSGT Ellis had been captured as his parachute brought him to earth. He was beaten severely in public, and paraded through the streets once taken to Singapore. He shouted "Good for me and bad for you!" while he was beaten.

On the evening of 10 Feb 1945, a party headed by Sub-Lieutenant Koayashi and Warrant Officer Toyama took the four prisoners to Nee Soon rifle range where they were beheaded. The bodies were initially buried, but were later dug up and cremated to hide the evidence of the war crimes. Lieutenant Commander Okamoto issued additional instructions for all his subordinates to keep quiet about the incident.

The Crew:

Ellis, Samuel B., Jr (S/Sgt) - Left Gunner
Fitzgerald, Robert G. (1st Lt) - Co-Pilot
Gumbert, Boyd M. (S/Sgt) - Right Gunner
Heiss, Edward (1st Lt) - Bombardier
Holt, Alarick A. (T/Sgt) - Tail Gunner
Osterdahl, Carrol N. (1st Lt) - Navigator
Roberts, Jerry D. (S/Sgt) - Radioman
Vail, Charles E. (1st Lt) -Engineer
Wilson, Joseph H., Jr (Major) - Aircraft Commander
Wolk, Philip (Sgt) - Top Gunner
Yowell, Robert W. (1st Lt) - Radar Operator
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Old 11th December 2018, 02:47
Laurent Rizzotti Laurent Rizzotti is offline
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Re: B-29 crewmen beheaded in Singapore

Your findings seem to deny the fact that the beheading was done in public. Do you find anything on the naked parade part ?
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Old 11th December 2018, 03:19
kaki3152 kaki3152 is online now
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Re: B-29 crewmen beheaded in Singapore

No, I guess the public beating of Sgt Ellis may pertain to this
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Old 11th December 2018, 04:05
RSwank RSwank is offline
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Re: B-29 crewmen beheaded in Singapore

The story may combine several different incidents.

At the end of this link there is a brief mention of some B-29 crewmen stripped naked and executed in front of villagers.

https://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircra...704/index.html

The two "possible" planes mentioned were "Kickapoo Lou" 42-24678 and "Lethal Lady" 42-6370. The exact fates of some of the B-29 crews lost on the various Singapore raids is still confused and remains unknown.

Last edited by RSwank; 11th December 2018 at 13:55.
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